Thursday, March 18, 2010

Did you know that Garver is working on a project that has been nicknamed “the most complex stimulus project in the whole country?” You can read about it and more in Garver’s IQ newsletter. In this issue, you’ll read about:

The Interstate 244 Inner Dispersal Loop in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This $70 million project includes pavement reconstruction and bridge rehabilitation and redecking on a major city interstate. Rep. James Oberstar, U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman, called it the most complex stimulus project and said it was “extraordinarily well conceived, carried out, and implemented in record time.”

A new airfield pavement maintenance program. A statewide general aviation airport project aims to maximize the lifespan of asphalt pavements by developing a rotational maintenance schedule for 75 airports.

The completion of a 16-year highway improvement project. Highway 65 in northwest Arkansas, a high-priority corridor, now carries traffic on 18 miles of realigned roadway.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Great news continues to pour out of Norman, Oklahoma as the city pursues an innovative arsenic-removal system. The city is working to reclaim its abandoned wells and provide a cost-effective answer for other municipalities seeking wellhead treatment solutions for high arsenic.

At a recent city water forum, Garver Project Manager Michael Graves confirmed that a year-long demonstration project effectively reduced levels of arsenic to below 10 ppb in a sample well. The success of the project motivated city officials to purchase the system, making the wellhead arsenic-removal system a permanent fixture, and the first of its kind in Oklahoma.

Garver's study reveals that the arsenic-removal system is a competitive way to produce water. This is especially true when comparing it to the cost of expanding conventional water treatment plants or buying finished water from neighboring municipalities.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

High-speed rail service is a hot topic these days, and Garver is boarding the train and contributing to this progressive movement.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation selected Garver to providea Preliminary Engineering Study and Final Construction Plans for the proposed Interstate 244westbound bridge over the Arkansas River in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The I-244 multimodal bridge will be a two-level structure that carries rail, vehicular, and pedestrian traffic across the Arkansas River. The rail will accommodate both commuter and high-speed lines. According to Gary Ridley, ODOT director, "It's one of the few in the country that would have those types of components."

Monday, March 15, 2010

With spring around the corner, more and more cyclists will be hiting the trails and riding on the roads. Cities around the country are reaching out to bicycle traffic, and Garver Executive Vice President Dan Williams recently attended the National Bike Summit in Washington, DC to learn how cyclists can help municipalities cater to the sport's needs.

Updated Maps:Google Maps has added a "biking" option as part of its directions. The site needs help getting bicycle routes updated on its maps, so be proactive and suggest locations by using the "Report a Problem" link in the bottom right corner of Google Maps.

New Website: There is a site to raise support for cycling. Go to peopleforbikes.org and sign the pledge to make our communities more bike friendly.

Bicycle Friendly Community: North Little Rock is the first city in Arkansas to be recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Part of its appeal includes the Big Dam Bridge, a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the Arkansas river. Other Bicycle Friendly Communities in our region include Tulsa, Oklahoma; Austin, Texas; Oxford, Mississippi; Auburn, Alabama; and Chattanooga, Tennessee.